Are you drinking dead water? Live Water founder Mukhande Singh claims that filtered and bottled spring water is sterilized – a process that destroys probiotics . He’s now marketing unfiltered “raw water” – but Mayo Clinic doctor Donald Hensrud cautions that untreated water can contain E.coli bacteria , viruses, carcinogenic compounds, and parasites . According to Singh (né Christopher Sanborn), sterilizing water demolishes at least five probiotic strains not found in other food sources that are important for absorbing nutrients from food. His company offers an alternative: untreated mountain spring water – available for $36.99 for a 2.5 gallon glass jug and $14.99 for refills. The company says of spring water: “We celebrate this ancient life source that humanity flourished from, since the beginning of our existence. We trust it’s perfect just the way it is.” Hensrud, director of the Mayo Clinic’s Healthy Living Program , told The New York Times , “Without water treatment , there’s acute and then chronic risks . . . There’s evidence all over the world of this, and the reason we don’t have those conditions is because of our very efficient water treatment. There are people, just like with immunizations, that don’t accept the status quo.” Related: Swiss resident peddles jars of Alps mountain air Live Water points to a 2015 article published in Biomedical Reports as evidence for the healing abilities of raw spring water. Singh told The New York Times, “Tap water? You’re drinking toilet water with birth control drugs in them. Chloramine, and on top of that they’re putting in fluoride. Call me a conspiracy theorist, but it’s a mind-control drug that has no benefit to our dental health .” The New York Times pointed out scientific evidence of fluoride as a mind-control drug is entirely lacking – but there is plenty of evidence it supports dental health. The Verge points out that water from the wilderness can make humans sick, as it can be contaminated with bacteria or viruses . Further, harmful chemicals like arsenic or metals like uranium can leach into the groundwater springs. Via The New York Times

Comments Off on Architects create exquisite home addition out of reclaimed barn wood and local stone

Montana-based JLF Architects recently updated a gorgeous home in Jackson Hole with a spacious addition built out of reclaimed barn wood and local stone. The home design is straight out of a fairy tale, with rustic wood paneling and a glass-enclosed interior walkway leading from one end of the existing structure to its new extension. The home is located deep in the Teton Pines community, surrounded by thick forest. The homeowners were looking to add space to host visiting family during the summer and holidays, but they wanted to retain the existing home’s aesthetic. Working with local firm, Big-D Signature , JLF Architects created a design that would enhance the home’s size, but without sacrificing its beautiful rustic character. Related: Dilapidated 1800s dairy barn resurrected into a stunning home in Wyoming According to the architects, the design was focused on extending the original design rather than adding on an independent addition, “Our design-build approach allowed our team to look at the design of this home holistically to create continuity and quality within the architecture,” explains JLF Architects principal Logan Leachman. To find the appropriate materials, the architects searched various local log yards for reclaimed timber and stone that would match the original structure. Luckily, they found Montana moss rock and rough-sawn fir panels as well as 20th-century chestnut hardwood floors, all of which were used in the construction of the 700-square-foot addition. To connect the old space with the new addition, partners Big-D Signature crafted a beautiful glass entryway that connects the two structures. The glass walls allow for natural light to flood the interior and provides some seriously stunning views of the natural surroundings. The walkway is bookended by two stone walls that, along with the glass and timber passageway, brings the exterior into the interior. + JLF Architects + Big-D Signature

Comments Off on Chicago drinking fountains have been running non-stop for months, and the reason why is infuriating

For the past few months, drinking fountains in Chicago have been running non-stop because the water pipes there contains “dangerously high” lead levels. Ingesting excess levels of lead (and just to be clear, health officials say no amount of lead exposure is safe ) can cause symptoms such as constipation, vomiting, developmental disabilities, hyperactivity, irritability, insomnia and memory loss. So to address the issue, the city has simply disabled the “push” buttons to let the fountains flow freely, reducing the hazardous levels of lead that actually make it into the water. In April of 2016, WBEZ began investigating the suspicious act of allowing the faucets to flow freely. This week, investigative journalists finally received answers. Reportedly, 450 Chicago park fountains contain “dangerously high” lead levels — with some spouting water with levels 80 times higher than the EPA limit. As a result of the action taken, 450 fountains met EPA standards. However, 107 were still contaminated with lead , which is why officials plan to keep them flowing until mid-fall. An additional 100 or so will be running round-the-clock for “spring flushing” to clear the pipes after winter. While a temporary solution has been found, one cannot ignore the environmental travesty which is occurring by allowing hundreds of faucets to flow freely for not just days, but months on end. For every spigot that is left on, nearly 600 gallons of drinking water are wasted each day. It’s exactly because of this expense that Chicago spent hundreds of thousands of dollars installing on-and-off buttons on the fountains in 2003. Unfortunately, city officials did not plan for lead contamination . Related: Abandoned fountain transformed into a pop-up urban spa in Mexico For now, district officials say they will continue testing and monitoring mountains throughout the summer with rapid detection tests. Fountains that are found to contain high levels of lead will have their samples followed up with additional lab analyses. All in all, plan on packing some purified, spring water if you intend on visiting a Chicago park in the near future. Via WBEZ Images via Pixabay and Deposit Photos

Comments Off on Treeson’s Brilliant Biodegradable Water Bottles are Recycled as Clean Energy

After Treeson water company founder Carlton Solle took a trip to Costa Rica with his family five years ago and saw the dreadful plastic pollution littering the beach, he learned that less than 20 percent of the 50 billion plastic water bottles sold in the United States are actually recycled . The remaining 40 billion end up in landfills, waterways and oceans, or in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch . Moved by this to solve water bottle waste, Treeson designed a self-sustaining water bottle that uses water sourced at a natural spring in Costa Rica. Made from eco-friendly packaging that is easily flattened and returned for free via the United States Postal Service , this bottle will be recycled as clean energy with a machine that converts the material into biogas. Read the rest of Treeson’s Brilliant Biodegradable Water Bottles are Recycled as Clean Energy Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: “clean energy” , Biodegradable , biodegradable water bottles , Carlton Solle , Costa Rica , eco-friendly , GMO-free , great pacific garbage patch , landfill , plastic water bottles converted into energy , recycling , spring water , toxin free , trash , tree planting , Treeson , usps , water bottle

Comments Off on Japanese Tuna Company, Labeled Sustainable, Found Worst for Marine Life: Greenpeace

Image: mySupermarket Continuing its unofficial role as a fishing industry watchdog, Greenpeace is calling attention to the most environmentally destructive tuna brand in England, a Japanese company that uses destructive fishing methods while falsely claiming sustainability. The organization recently criticized the Marine Stewardship Council for handing out